--- title: "Carmen A. Means | KnowJudges" canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/carmen-a-means-sd-trial" page_type: "judge_profile" updated: "2026-10-07" --- # Carmen A. Means South Dakota Circuit Court · Circuit Judge ## Profile - Court: South Dakota Circuit Court - State: South Dakota - Role: Circuit Judge - Service status: active - Last verified: 2026-10-02 ## Summary Official statewide and applicable court procedural guidance applies to this judge. ## Biography ### Professional career - Circuit Judge for South Dakota’s Third Judicial Circuit, serving since 2015 and based in Watertown, SD - Circuit Judge, Third Judicial Circuit Watertown - appointed May 7 2015 by Gov Daugaard replacing Timm, Codington Drug Court - Magistrate Judge (2013–2015): Served on the Third Judicial Circuit before her circuit judge appointment - Described as South Dakota Third Circuit judge appointed May 2015 by Governor Dennis Daugaard, replacing Robert Timm, after Third Circuit magistrate service (2013–2015). - Minnehaha Public Defender & Public Advocate 1994-2005 - Court Website: South Dakota Unified Judicial System — Judge Carmen A. Means SD Judicial System ### Education ### Additional information - It lists a 2022 reelection candidacy. - Owner Blue & Haeder Law Huron 2006-2013 - Georgetown University B.A., Creighton University J.D. (1993), Minnehaha County public defender (1994–2005), and private practice (2006–2013). - Before joining the bench, Judge Means had a diverse legal career in both public service and private practice, including work as a public advocate and public defender - Recognized for her service in the state’s judicial system and continues to preside over cases in the Third Judicial Circuit, including family law, civil, and criminal matters - G; e; o; r; g; e; t; o; w; n; - U; n; i; v; e; r; s; i; t; y; - B - A; - E; c; o; n; o; m; i; c; s;; 1; 9; 9; 0 - C; r; e; i; g; h; t; o; n; - S; c; h; o; o; l;; o; f; - L; a; w; - J - D;; 1; 9; 9; 3 ## Before you appear - Read the judge-specific standing order first when one is listed. - Check the docket and case orders for requirements that supersede broader guidance. - Confirm current remote-access and courtroom technology arrangements before the proceeding. ## Courtroom Rules ### electronic devices and media Scope: statewide South Dakota's published statewide guidance permits expanded media coverage in circuit and magistrate proceedings only when the parties and court agree, and the court may modify the coverage at any time. Evidence excerpt: Expanded media coverage (audio, video and still photos) is allowed when the parties of the case and the court all agree that such coverage should be permitted. [South Dakota Unified Judicial System: Circuit Court Media Coverage](https://ujs.sd.gov/for-the-media/) Source checked: 2026-07-27 ## Sources - [Official profile](https://ujs.sd.gov/sd-unified-judicial-system-directory/) - [Official roster](https://ujs.sd.gov/court-finder/third-judicial-circuit/circuit-contacts-third-judicial-circuit/) - [South Dakota Unified Judicial System Directory](https://ujs.sd.gov/sd-unified-judicial-system-directory/) - [South Dakota Unified Judicial System: Circuit Court Media Coverage](https://ujs.sd.gov/for-the-media/) - [Biography source supplied in SD-Judges.csv](https://news.sd.gov/news?id=news_kb_article_view&sys_id=f409dd801b1c69506e4aa97ae54bcb34) - [Biography source supplied in SD-Judges.csv](https://ujs.sd.gov/court-finder/third-judicial-circuit/circuit-contacts-third-judicial-circuit/) - [Biography source supplied in SD-Judges.csv](https://news.sd.gov/news?id=news_kb_article_view&sys_id=f409dd801b1c69506e4aa97ae54bcb34) - [Biography source supplied in SD-Judges.csv](https://ujs.sd.gov/court-finder/third-judicial-circuit/circuit-contacts-third-judicial-circuit/) - [South Dakota Unified Judicial System official judicial roster](https://ujs.sd.gov/sd-unified-judicial-system-directory/) - [South Dakota Unified Judicial System: Circuit Court Media Coverage](https://ujs.sd.gov/for-the-media/) - [Biography source supplied in SD-Judges.csv](https://news.sd.gov/news?id=news_kb_article_view&sys_id=f409dd801b1c69506e4aa97ae54bcb34) - [Biography source supplied in SD-Judges.csv](https://ujs.sd.gov/court-finder/third-judicial-circuit/circuit-contacts-third-judicial-circuit/) - [ballotpedia.org](https://ballotpedia.org/Carmen_Means) - [ujs.sd.gov](https://ujs.sd.gov/sd-unified-judicial-system-directory/carmen-a-means/) - [www.ballotready.org](https://www.ballotready.org/people/carmen-means-d0c6eefd-c68f-40c5-b6e7-c7c58abeb56d) - [South Dakota Unified Judicial System official judicial roster](https://ujs.sd.gov/sd-unified-judicial-system-directory/) - [South Dakota Unified Judicial System: Circuit Court Media Coverage](https://ujs.sd.gov/for-the-media/) - [Biography source supplied in SD-Judges.csv](https://news.sd.gov/news?id=news_kb_article_view&sys_id=f409dd801b1c69506e4aa97ae54bcb34) - [Biography source supplied in SD-Judges.csv](https://ujs.sd.gov/court-finder/third-judicial-circuit/circuit-contacts-third-judicial-circuit/) ## JSON-LD ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/carmen-a-means-sd-trial", "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/carmen-a-means-sd-trial", "name": "Carmen A. 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Shared court context only; case-type restrictions, exceptions, later amendments and case orders apply. This is not a personal preference or a complete rules inventory. [Official source](https://ujs.sd.gov/for-the-media/). Collected 2026-07-27.